Edging strip for a dry wall structure



Dec.23,1'969 v P.A.M ER 3,485,001

EDGING STRIP FOR A DRY WALL STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 6, 1967 3 INVENTOR PETER H. MILLER BY V Qw- W A TORNEYS United States Patent 3,485,001 EDGING STRIP FOR A DRY WALL STRUCTURE Peter H. Miller, 338 Wilson Ave., Newark, NJ. 07105 Filed Dec. 6, 1967, Ser. No. 688,412 Int. Cl. E041. 19/06; E04b 1/60 U.S. Cl. 52-281 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to a dry wall structure and more particularly to the corner structure of a dry wall as is used in buildings primarily as a partition wall.

An outer corner, usually a right-angle corner, of any wall structure constitutes a rather vulnerable area, both during erection of the walls and after they become part of a building. An impact by a hard body obviously tends to damage the corner at which two walls meet more easily than the walls themselves. Corners of dry wall structures are particularly vulnerable as such walls are consructed of comparatively soft material such as wall boards, plaster boards and other types of panels. Moreover, the more or less narow but unavoidable gap between the two walls at the but line thereof must be covered or filled in to permit the smooth finishing by papering or painting.

It has long been standard practice in the building industry to protect the corners of dry wall structures. Many types tof edging strips have been developed nd are available in the market, such as paper strips either perforated or nonperforated, metal strips either flat to be folded in situ or prefolded, and others. Tests have shown that the heretofore available edging strips are not satisfactory in all respects. Some types of known edging strips do not provide sufficient protection, others are too bulky and still others require a careful and time-consuming installation by the workers on the job.

It is a broad object of the invention to provide a novel and improved edging strip for corners of dry wall structures of the general kind above referred to which can be rapidly and conveniently installed and encases the entire corner area thereby fully protecting the same.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved edging strip which, in addition to protecting the corner area of the dry wall structure, facilitates the locating and mounting of wall boards or other panels of the dry wall.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved edging strip which is preformed and when secured to one of the meeting walls forms channels for the walls, thereby greatly facilitating the locating and fastening of the walls.

Still another more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved edging strip which, when installed, conceals the butt edge of the meeting walls and presents the same appearance on both sides of the corner.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will be pointed out hereinafter and set forth in the appended claims constituting part of the application.

In the accompanying drawing, a now preferred embodi- Cir meat of the invention is shown by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of the corner of a dry wall structure according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a partly assembled corner structure using a metal stud;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a fully assembled corner structure; and

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a fully assembled corner structure using a wooden stud.

Referring first to FIGS. 1, .2 and 3 more in detail, the corner structure as exemplified in these figures comprises a metal stud 1 such as a channeled stud preferably of U-shaped cross-section. The stud has a web 1a and side branches 1b and 1c. The side branches may be turned inwardly at their ends to give the stud more rigidity but this is not essential for the purpose of the invention. The stud serves as support for two panels 2 and 3 such as wall boards or plaster boards.

In the fully assembled position of the corner structure as shown in FIG. 3, panel 3 abuts against web 1c so that its respective edge is substantially fiush with the corner defined by side branches 1b and 1c of the stud and panel 2 abuts against side branch 1b so that its respective edge is substantially fiush with the outer surface of panel 3.

The edging strip 5 according to the invention, which serves to protect the corner and also to secure the panels in position, is formed of an elongate substantially rigid but bendable strip such as a metal strip. As is clearly shown in the figures, the strip is bent lengthwise at a right angle to form portions 6 and 7. It is then bent back upon itself to form a portion 8 and it is again bent at a right angle to form a portion 9. Portions 6 and 9 are parallel to each other but spaced apart, the spacing corresponding to the thickness of panel 2. The strip portion 8 is partly in superimposition with strip portion 7 and partly extends beyond portion 6 to be continued into portion 9. Strip portions 8 and 9 preferably are of equil width, and strip portion 6 is preferably wider than strip portion 9. The Width of strip portion 7 is selected in acordance with the desired Width of strip portions 8 and 9.

The edging strip as described is preformed as to its cross-sectional shape and cut to length in situ. Instead of bending the edging strip from a single strip two suitably dimensioned strips can be secured to each other along edge 5a.

Referring now to FIG. 2, this figure shows the edging strip in its correct location in reference to the stud. As is shown in this figure, web 1a of the stud and strip portion 7 define a channel therebetween, the width of which corresponds to the thickness of panel 3. Similarly, strip portions 6 and 9 define a channel therebetween, the width of which corresponds to the thickness of panel 2.

To assemble the wall structure, the edging strip may be first secured to stud 1 by suitable fastening means such as screws or nails indicated at 10. The two panels may then be pushed into the aforedescribed channels formed by the edging strip in conjunction with the stud. They may further be secured by driving nails or other fastening means indicated at 11 through strip portions 8 and 9 into the bodies of the panels.

As is evident, the two panels are automatically correctly located when inserted into the two channels. However, a working man may find it more convenient first to secure panel 3 to the stud by driving nails or other fastening means through the panel and the web of the stud. As is obvious, correct location of the panel in reference to the stud is very convenient. All a working man has to do is to line up the front edge of the panel with adjacent surface of side branch 1b of the stud.

After panel 3 is secured to the stud, the correct location of the edging strip is automatically fixed. Strip portions 6 and 7 are simply pushed against side branch 1b and the outside of panel 3 respectively. The edging strip is thereupon suitably secured to panel 3 and the stud by conventional fastening means such as screws or nails. The assembly of the corner structure is completed by pushing panel 2 into the channel defined by strip portions 6 and 9 whereupon the panel is secured by driving nails or screws through strip portion 9.

As previously stated, strip portions 8 and 9 have preferably equal width, primarily for ornamental reasons. The width of the strip portions can be selected as desired. FIG. 3 also shows that the strip portion 8 fully conceals the butt joined between panels 2 and 3 thereby facilitating the finishing of the wall.

Strip portion 6 constitutes a back-up reinforcement for panel 2 as its width is in excess of the Width of strip portion 9 and of the side branches of the stud.

A corner structure as described can be anchored at the top and the bottom in conventional ceiling runners or floor runners.

The use of an edging strip according to the invention is not limited to dry wall structures including metal studs. It can be equally well applied to a wall structure including wooden studs or posts and such stud is shown in FIG. 4. The assembly of a corner structure in which a wooden stud is used is evident from the previous description and hence need not be described in detail.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to a certain now preferred example and embodiment of the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art, after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is intended, therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A corner structure of a dry wall formed by panels, said corner structure comprising in combination:

a stud of U-shaped cross-section having two straight branches each defining a right angle with the web of the stud; and

an elongate strip of substantially T-shaped crosssection having a straight long arm and straight cross arms, one cross arm of the strip being continued at its free lengthwise edge by a straight strip portion defining a right anglewith said one cross arm and extending toward and parallel to the long arm of the strip spaced apart therefrom to define a channel between said strip portion and the long arm,

said long arm of the strip being flatly secured upon one of said branches of the stud in a position such that the cross arms of the strip are disposed parallel to the Web of the stud and spaced apart therefrom and said strip portion is parallel to the branch to which the long arm of the strip is secured but is spaced apart therefrom.

2. A corner structure according to claim 1 wherein said elongate metal strip is a one-piece strip folded at a right angle along an intermediate lengthwise line to define a strip part normal to the remainder of the strip and located on one side thereof, said remainder constituting the long arm and said strip part one cross arm of the strip, said strip part being folded back upon itself along a second intermediate lengthwise line to define a second strip part superimposed upon the first strip part, said second strip part extending beyond the long arm to constitute the second cross arm and being folded at a right angle along a further intermediate lengthwise line situated on the opposite side of the long arm of the strip and extending toward and parallel to said long arm spaced apart therefrom to define said channel therewith.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,609,541 12/1926 Gooding 52732 2,212,982 8/1940 Drain et al 52732 2,363,164 11/1944 Waller 52732 3,206,806 9/1965 Powell 52-282 FOREIGN PATENTS 121,075 3/1946 Australia.

797,415 7/1958 Great Britain.

665,632 1/1952 Great Britain.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner JAMES L. RIDGILL, 111., Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 52- 495, 732 

